The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-09-13

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/ away and spran my foot. This--a-man hap
pened to be near, and kindly rendered every
| assistance possible"
WHO are you, anyhow ?" demanded Cheever
! rather brutally of the tramp, who was regard
ing Barker attentively, and ignored the ques-
! ton.
Meanwhile the latter alighted and now said
to Lucy:
"Nfy'h horse is quite gentle. If Miss Claggctt
Will honor me by using him, we viii soon have
her at home"
Thanks" she returned, not noticing
Cheever, who scowled furtively at them both.
She readily resigned Nerself into Bankers
hands, and he lifted her skilfully into the
saddle. Lucy then turned TO. the tramp and
said kindly:
Come with us, please. Ny fatherwill want
to know of your kindness to his daughter"
| They started at oEce with Barker at Lucy's
| bride rein, while Cheever followed sulltly.
The tramp sighed and quietly fell in behind
them all.
The reserve with which Lucy had treated
| Barker on their previous meeting now melted
into real enjoyment Of his efforts to entertain
| her. Hewas polished and dCferential; yet his
persuasive tones evinced a strength and self
confidence ever pleasing TO women when felt
by rather than obtruded upon them. Cheever
watched them vindictiVely, his mien express
! ing the resentment he silently felt, The
tramp's eyes rested on Barker oftener than
elsewhere. A yearning expression at times
came over his feeble features as he noted the
northerner's eager attentions to the lady; then,
! when CheeVcr's manner would moro strongly
| evince his dislike, the tramp's face would
| harden into frown that seemed to eyince any
thing rather than liking for Tom Cheever
And so at length they arrived at Captain
| Claggetts, where Lucy was consigned to the
care OF her mother and 'Black Nanny and
disappeared, leaving with Barker raYishing
smile as remembrance until-they met again.
The tramp went to the kitchen and received
X In loan Nr4ln ann fpAtan both
| whites and blacks. Bud thanked him, and
the captain sWore roundly that he should clay
around and cat hog and hominy as long as his
| laZineSS allowed him to remain
| Cheeycr talked awhile on business matters
| with the planter and Barker, and then still
| sullIy and suspicious, took his leave As for
| Barker-he staid until the next morning, and
left with rose on his coat lapel, pinned there
by Miss Lucy rs she sat in an easy chair ON the
broad piazza, while the tramp regarded them
wistfully from his loungng place on the sunny
side Of the kitchen.
George Barker rode with the Claggetts to
| the Suuday-school picnic. Chccyer had remon-
strated with the captain for showing these
! "h--l fred northOrncrs'' so much social en-
enlargement, but the latter had said emphati-
| cally:.
'Barl1cr's gentleman, and he's solid iinan-
| cially as you well know. Lucy seems to like
| his company, and her pleasure is mighty apt to
our old-fashioned conservatism amount tonoW,
when We're all sculhing for bread together III
the same fuTrow?"
Our friend the tramp, attired in one of the
captains half-wom suits, a good size too large
| for him, was also along. Lucy and Barker rode
! side by side on horseback as though this dispo-'
sition OF themselves was the mostnatural thing
| in the world.
The weather was good, the attendance large
and Oak Grove down by the Illaloo river the
very place to please everybody. The dinner
was simply immense, making our tramp long
| for the stomach of an anaconda when he found
that sated-nature would endure no more, even
| of sylabub and pound cake.
The picnckers had scattered through the
woods. Left to himself he wandered off to
| smoke a pipe and perhaps be overtakcn by
! nap. and finally laid down near the edge Of u
precipitous bluff overhanging a sheltered nook
| by the riverside, where q fringe of oak bushes,
nterlaced by museadine vines, concealed him
| from the eyes of casual strollers. Lighting his
| pipe, he la2ilv INDUCED in that fulfilled con-
tent of mind and bodWwhich is the usual result
OF good dinner well enjoyed Then-he fell
| asleep.
After time his slumbering senses were
tickled into activity again by a murmUr of
| voices below him. He peered over the brow
OF the Cliff and beheld Barker and Lucy
/ engaged in q private conversation. She was
| seated with her back against pine, playing
nervously with long fern, while he reclined
at her feet, his hat thrown to one side and his
whole manner expressive Of soft, persuasive
appeal
The tramp nestled closer dQyn among the
bushes and watched them. All length Barker
possessed himself OF Lucy'S hand, which she
surrendered with an air Of Shy, yielding re-
luctance tlat bore its own sweet iutelprcta-
ton. A half smothered hnprecation met the
tramp.s ear. and peering cautiously around, he
saw Tom ChceVcr also watching the scene
below from behind a great rock that had
hitherto concealed these two eaycsdroppers
from each other. In his silent fury the latter
had thrust himself forward into view Barker
raised the little hand to his lips, kissed it pas
sionatcy while Lucy seemed to be slowly yield
ing to the conccssiye promptings of her heart.
But voices We're now audible from the river
side, and soon Lucy was called away by bevy
Of girls leaving Barker at last alone. He
started up the bluff, wrapt in pleasing reyerie,
until he came TO q deep gorge separating him
from the open woods beyond. A long fOOt-log
spanncd its nanoWcst pant. The place was
isolated and wild, none Of the picnckers appar-
entity being near.
CReeyer stole after him, his face alive with
the malevoeut passions that were consuming
| him. The tramp, suspocting foul play, Crcpt
| after them both. AS Barker approached the
log Cheeycr drew near and slipped behind a
large sweetgum tree. The former, still wrapped
! in pleasant f1ncies. started slowly across the
chasm, hero fully eighty feet deep, with huge,
Jagged rocks AZ the bottom, where tiny riyulet
ran on towards the river. Chceyer darling
forward, seized long handpole that lay near.
Ono shrewd push from behind, and all Lucy's
bright fancios concerning this, her latest lover,
would be st at rest forever.
At that moment he felt sharp tap on the
shoulder. He turned quickly and found him
self confronted by the tramp, who whispered,
jerking his thumb toward the bushes:
Back you 90 there, with mel"
Caught in the act, with every move intcrpre-
tatiye Of his murderOu5 intent, raging inward
~ yet realizing the necessity Of secrecy and
of-obcdiencc he turned. Barker went on his
way, seemingly unsuspcious, while The two
others again crouched among the bushes,
] DlaTiuO dumb Iqfiaupo 81 oh gt1ar
''Now, Mr.. Cheever," said the tramp. as
Barker disappeared from sight, "you needn't
exIlain But III just give you pointer. II
you want this little affair kept dark, sort Of
forgotten like, you must let that man alone.
If yon over try 10 harm hair Of his head,
blame me II don't publish your little nistake